Course Outline
PSY709 Human Associative Learning
Course Coordinator:Kate Mulgrew (kmulgrew@usc.edu.au) School:School of Health and Behavioural Sciences
2021Semester 2
UniSC Sunshine Coast |
Blended learning | Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online. |
Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.
What is this course about?
Description
This course examines the principles, processes and mechanisms by which humans and other species acquire information about the world and translate that information into action. You are introduced to the major theories of learning, empirical research that supports for these theories, and applications of learning theory to behaviour change and maintenance. You will learn to conduct research with humans and animals based on established learning principles, with a focus on how these skills can be used within support work.
How will this course be delivered?
| Activity | Hours | Beginning Week | Frequency |
| Blended learning | |||
| Lecture – Online lecture | 1hr | Week 1 | 13 times |
| Tutorial/Workshop 1 – Face to face workshop | 2hrs | Week 2 | 12 times |
Course Topics
- Theoretical foundations (classical conditioning, operant conditioning, observational learning)
- Applications with a focus on behaviour change
What level is this course?
700 Level (Specialised)
What is the unit value of this course?
12 units
How does this course contribute to my learning?
| Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... | Graduate Qualities Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... | |
| 1 | Understand and apply core and advanced research paradigms in human associative learning | Knowledgeable |
| 2 | Critically evaluate research and research data for use with specific populations | Creative and critical thinker |
| 3 | Select and apply advanced knowledge and well-developed judgement to complex associative learning issues | Empowered |
| 4 | Present knowledge in a clear and concise manner in appropriate style | Empowered |
Am I eligible to enrol in this course?
Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.
Pre-requisites
Enrolled in program AR506
Co-requisites
Not applicable
Anti-requisites
Not applicable
Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)
Not applicable
Microcredential Information
Not applicable
How am I going to be assessed?
Grading Scale
Standard Grading (GRD)
| High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL). |
Details of early feedback on progress
Workshops will provide guidance and feedback. There is also an early, low weighted assessment piece.
Assessment tasks
| Delivery mode | Task No. | Assessment Product | Individual or Group | Weighting % | What is the duration / length? | When should I submit? | Where should I submit it? |
| All | 1a | Written Piece | Individual | 10% | 1000 words |
Week 5 | Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check |
| All | 1b | Written Piece | Individual | 10% | 1000 words |
Week 13 | Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check |
| All | 2 | Report | Individual | 40% | 2000-2500 words |
Week 11 | Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check |
| All | 3 | Examination - Centrally Scheduled | Individual | 40% | 2 hrs |
Exam Period | Exam Venue |
| All - Assessment Task 1a:Workbook 1a | |||||||||||||
| Goal: | The purpose of this workbook is to increase your understanding of the dominant research paradigms in learning research. You are required to write up two of the experiments conducted in laboratory class time based on the Sniffy program and other experiments. You write up one experiment for Part 1 of the Workbook and a different experiment for Part 2 of the Workbook. Group data will be collected and presented in class and a set of questions will be provided for each workbook. |
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| Format: | Written piece submitted online. |
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| All - Assessment Task 1b:Workbook 1b | |||||||||||||
| Goal: | The purpose of this workbook is to increase your understanding of the dominant research paradigms in learning research. You are required to write up two of the experiments conducted in laboratory class time based on the Sniffy program and other experiments. You write up one experiment for Part 1 of the Workbook and a different experiment for Part 2 of the Workbook. Group data will be collected and presented in class and a set of questions will be provided for each workbook. |
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| Product: | Written Piece | ||||||||||||
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| Format: | Written piece submitted online. |
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| All - Assessment Task 2:Behaviour change report | ||||||||||||||||
| Goal: | The aim of this laboratory report is to increase your understanding of the behaviour modification process. You will prepare a laboratory report outlining the results of a behaviour modification program. You will be required to select a behaviour you wish to modify, collect data outlining the operant (baseline) level of the behaviour, design and implement an intervention strategy, monitor changes in the behaviour post-intervention, and critically evaluate their intervention using associative learning theories. |
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| Product: | Report | |||||||||||||||
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| Format: | APA style laboratory report |
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| All - Assessment Task 3:Final exam | |||||||
| Goal: | The purpose of this exam is to assess your knowledge of the course content. |
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| Product: | Examination - Centrally Scheduled | ||||||
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| Format: | Online |
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Directed study hours
A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.
What resources do I need to undertake this course?
Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.
Prescribed text(s) or course reader
You need regular access to the resource(s) below. Many texts are available as ebooks through the Library at no additional cost.
| Required? | Author | Year | Title | Edition | Publisher |
| Required | n/a | 0 | Textbook to be confirmed | n/a | n/a |
Specific requirements
Not applicable
How are risks managed in this course?
What administrative information is relevant to this course?
Assessment: Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.
Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.
In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.
Assessment: Additional Requirements
Additional assessment requirements If standard graded course, add: Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying: The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4% The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale You have not failed an assessment task in the course due to academic misconductAssessment: Submission penalties
Work of submissions 10% over the word count will not be read and will not contribute to the final grade for the task. This does not include Reference lists. Late submission of assessment tasks will be penalised at the following maximum rate: • 5% (of the assessment task’s identified value) per day for the first two days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. • 10% (of the assessment task’s identified value) for the third day • 20% (of the assessment task’s identified value) for the fourth day and subsequent days up to and including seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. • A result of zero is awarded for an assessment task submitted after seven days from the date identified as the due date for the assessment task. Weekdays and weekends are included in the calculation of days late. To request an extension, you must contact your Course Coordinator and supply the required documentation to negotiate an outcome.Links to relevant University policy and procedures
For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:
- Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
- Review of Assessment and Final Grades
- Supplementary Assessment
- Central Examinations
- Deferred Examinations
- Student Conduct
- Students with a Disability
For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching
Student Charter
UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.
General Enquiries
- In person:
- UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
- UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
- UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
- UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
- UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
- UniSC Caboolture - Student Central, Level 1 Building J, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Caboolture
- Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
- Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au